In the U.S. the federal law that governs telemarketers is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA)47USC Section 227. Details are provided in the Code of Federal Regulations (find it on Google) 47 CFR Section 64.1200.

Among other things, this law states that telemarketers must keep a "do-not-call" list. This is NOT the government's national "do-not-call" list.When consumers request that their names be placed on that list, the company is barred from calling them again for a period of 10 years.

So, when they call, ask if they have a "do-not-call" list. We have never had anyone say no but if they did we would quote them the law. When they say yes, ask to be put on it. Our experience has been that the caller immediately starts calling us sir or ma'am and promises that we won't be called again. Within a month our telemarketing calls dwindled to less than one a month.

Try it, you'll love it.

Bev and Jerry